Telephone system



May. 19, 1925.

A. E. STEVENS TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed May 28, 1921 w mg M Patented May19, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALTON STEVENS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND; MAUDE L.STEVENS ADMIN- PATENT OFFICE.

ISTRATRIX OF SAID ALTON E. STEVENS, DECEASED.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Application filed May 28, 1921.

lie it known that I, Arron E. S'rnvENs, citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and Stateof Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelephone Systems, at "which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates more particularly to a combination oi an automatictelephone system and a signalling system for use in privateinstallations, and has for its object the provision of a means forquickly signalling a person, say, in an unknown part of an institution,and of means for conveniently establishing telephonic communication withhim.

In the diagrammatic drawings illustrating the principle of my invention.and the best method now known to me of en'ibodying the same in operativestructure,

Fig. 1 shows apparatus of a telephone station embraced in an automatictelephone system.

Fig. 2 illustrates a similar station embraced in said systen'i.

Fi 8 shows central station apparatus for the two stations exhibited inFigs. 1 and 2.

Fig. a is a modification showing another method of connecting anauxiliary calling circuit and an auxiliary answering circuit.

it is to be understood that the impulse sending means, shown in Fi s. 1and 2, may

be any suitable so-called automatic impulse sendii'ig device, or impulsetransmitter; and also that the system may embrace any reasonablenul'nber of telephone stations like those of Figs. 1 and 2.

Each telephonestation, see Fig. 1, compriscs an impulse sending key 1, aringing key a direct current ringer 8, a transmittcr 1:. a receiver 5, areceiver hook t3, and an induction coil having a primary 7, and asecondary 8.

The telephone station, Fig. 1, is connected to the central stationapparatus, Fig. 8, by three wires. 9, 10 and 11.. Atthe central stationis an individual selector for each tele phone station,- comjiirising aradial bank or contact points 12, the said contacts all being in thesame plane; a shaft 18, carrying a wiper 14-. designed to successivelyengage the said contacts when the shaft 13 is rotated; a ratchet wheel15, which is driven. by a pawl Serial No. 473,469.

16, on armature 17, of stepping magnet 18, one step for each time thesaid magnet is energized; a connecting magnet 19, having an armature 20,designed to engage and hold ratchet wheel 15 in each successive step,and an armature 21 which operates certain con tact springs; and alockout relay magnet 22, which, when energized, operates certain contactsprings for the purpose of preventing its selector from connecting to aline in use. 23 is a busy tone buzzer used in common by all stations.

A party at station Fig. 1, wishing to call a party at station Fig. 2,lifts the receiver 5 from hook 6 which contacts point 28, therebycompleting a holding circuit by permitting current to flow from thepositive side 29, of battery 30, through wire 9, hook 6, contact 28,primary 7, transmitter 4:, Wire 11, around magnet 19, wire 31 tonegative side 82, of battery 30. The magnet 19 is thereby energized andattracts armature 20 which causes spring detcnt 33'to engage ratchetwheel 15, and hold it in any position to which it may be moved.

The impulse key 1 is now depressed four times, into contact with point34;, each time completing a stepping circuit from 29, tln'ough 9, 1,34k, 10, 18, 35, to 32; thereby causing magnet 18 to be energized fourtimes, and to attract its armature 17, and cause pawl 16 to engageratchet 15 andstep it ahead four steps, with the result that wiper 14 isbrought into contact with point 36.

It is well known that a relay armature may be so adjusted that a weakcurrent through the magnet will not cause its attraction, but when astronger current causes its attraction and then the current is reducedto its former weakness, it is still sufiieient to hold the armature. Nowthe adjustments of armatures 20 and 21 of magnet 19, are such thatcurrent over the abovev holding circuit, through the resistance of 7'and 4t, will cause armature 20 to operate, but 21, being more stifiiyadjusted will not operate until ringing key 2 is pressed and contactspoint 36 which short circuits resistances 7 and 4, thereby permittingenough additional cur rent to flow over the holding circuit to cause 21to be attracted and cause spring 37 to contact spring 38 and push it outof contact with point 39. The strong current which flows from 29 throughstation Fig. 1 when ringing key 2 is depressed, splitsat point 40; onaccount of the high resistance of 19, the greater part of the currentflowing through wire 11, spring 12, point 13, wire 14, springs 37 and38, wires and 4:6, to wiper 14: which has contacted point 36; thecurrent continuing over wire 100, multiple wire 101, home wire 457,wires 18, and 49, ringer 50, Fig. 2, contacts 51, 52, wire 53, steppingmagnet 5%, Fig. 8, wire 55 to negative side 32 of battery the ringerthus signalling the party at station Fig. 2. The current passing throughmagnet 54 does not cause its operation, as it is of comparatively lowresistance. The party at station Fig. 2, by removing receiver 56 fromhook 57, which now contacts point 58, can converse with the callingparty at station, Fig. 1.

The transmitter 1, at station Fig. 1 receives its energizing currentover its holding circuit hereinbefore described, the magnet 19 being ofhigh impedance, as is also magnet 59; while the transmitter (50 ofstation Fig. 2 receives its energizing current over its own holdingcircuit, as follows 1- from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 63,57, 58, 61, 60, 418, 59, 62, to opposite side of battery 30. The circuitfollowed by the voice produced currents is as follows from positive side29, of battery 30 through 9, 6, 2s, 7, 4, 11, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 37,3s, 45, 4c, 14, 100, 101, 47', 4s, 60, c1, 58, 57, 63, back to 29. Thefluctuations in the primary windings 7 and 61 of the induction coils ateach station, inductively affect the secondary windings, which in turnaffect the receivers in a well-known manner, and conversation can becarried on between the two stations.

Now if station Fig. 2 is in use when station Fig. .1 is called, thelatter will be pre vented from connectingthereto and will receive a busyhum in his receiver for the following reasons I Receiver 56, Fig. 2,would be off of hook 57, which would be in contact with 58 and,

therefore, a guarding or lockout potential would be found on point 36Fig. 3, by brush 11, causing the lockout relay 22 to operate and preventa connection to the .busy station; the lockout potentialcircuit being asfollows :from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 63, Fig. 2, 57,58, 61, 60, 48, home wire 41-7, 101, 100, to contact 36, thence over thelockout circuit of the calling sta tion Fig. 1, from contact 36, over 11, 16, 38, 39, around lockout magnet 22, to nega- 13118 side 32.01battery 30.

The lockout relay 22 is energized, and attracts armature (35, causingspring 66 to contact 67, and push 12 away from point 43 and into contactwith point 68, firstcompleting a local locking-circuit from the livepoint 36, through 1 1, 46, 69, 67, 66, 22 to 32, causing 22 to remainenergized as long as the called station remains busy, or until receiver5 is replaced. A busy tone circuit notifying the calling party atstation Fig. 1, that the station Fig. 2 is busy, is completed by theenergization of 22, as follows :from negative side 32 of battery 30,through wire (39, busy-tone buzzer 23, contacts 70, 71, through 72, 68,12, 4:1, 11, 41, 7, 28, 6, 9, to positive side 29 of battery 30; themagnet 23 attracting armature 70 away from 71, and causing a buzz in awell-known manner which is repeated into secondary 8 and receiver 5; andthe party at station Fig. 1 is aware that station Fig. 2 is busy.

Replacing the receiver 5 of the calling station, causes magnet 19 to bede-energized, which releases armature 20, causing detent '38 todisengage ratchet 15 which is restored to normal position by spring 73,shown in dotted lines.

Having described briefly the general construction and operation of anautomatic telephone system, I will now describe the principal featuresof my invention, and their adaptation to, and con'ibination with, suchautomatic telephone system, whereby 1st, a person in air-unknown part ofan institution, may be called by a calling station for the purpose oftelephonic communication; 2nd, said called party may place himself intelephonic communication with the calling party; and 3rd, telephoniccommunication may be had without the possibility of a connection to theline by a third station, that is, the attainment ofprivate communication between only two stations, nan e y, the calling and the calledstations.

A general call circuit, 24:, 25, Fig. 3, is run throughout aninstitution with signal bells or horns as 25, installed at variouslocations, not necessarily adjacent to telephone stations, the signalsbeing so placed that when the circuit is rendered active by,

battery current being supplied to the circuit, one or more of thesignals may be heard in any part of the institution. A code of signalsis arranged, and each individual having a code call, and who may be invarious parts of the institution, may be signalled, and may reply, fromany telephone.

The party at station Fig. 1, upon calling station, as Fig. 2, andfinding the individual he wants is at an unknown point on the premises,releases the connection, or if the calling party knows that the partydesired is not at his usual substation, then in either case, the callingparty operates key 1, once, thereby stepping his wiper 1 1 to 74:, thenpresses key 2 a number of times correspond ing to the code ring ofthe'wanted party; each press of key completes an auxiliary signal'or'relay circuit from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 9, 6, 28, 36,2, 11, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 37, 3s, 45, 4c, 14, 74, 75, 76, around relay102 through wire 77, to

negative side 32 of battery 30. The armature 78 is stiftly adjusted, asis armature 21, both of which operate when key 2 is pressed. Armature21, however, is adjusted so that it holds up after key 2 is released,while armature 78 is so adjusted as to return to normal when key 2 isreleased. The armature 78 upon being attracted by magnet 102, contactspoint 79 and bridges battery 82 across general call circuit 24, 25, overwires 80, 81, and the signal devices 26 are operated a number of timescorresponding to the code number of the party wanted, who, upon hearinghis signal, steps to any telephone of the system, as Fig. 2 forinstance, removes his receiver, as 50, and operates his key 83 intocontact with 84, twice, and the stepping magnet 54, causes the wiper 85to contact the point 86 which is connected to multiple wire 87 of anauxiliary answering or relay circuit. Key 88 is now pressed into contactwith point 89, thereby completing said auxiliary answering or relaycircuit from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 63, 57, 89, as, 48,94, 95, 9c, 47, 9s, 99, 93, e5,

86, 87, 103 to negative side 32 of battery 30; thereby operating therelay 103 in the same manner as the key 2 operated 102; armature 90contacts point 91, and closes the general call circuit between wires,80, 81, 24, 25, thereby causing signals 26 to operate once, and notifythe calling party who has connected to multiple wire 75, of auxiliarysignal circuit, that the wanted party has answered, and is connected tomultiple wire 87 of the auxiliary answering circuit. The two can nowconverse by reason of condenser 92 which permits voice produced currentsto pass between the two multiple wires.

If a party at another station now attempts to connect to either thecalling or answering point on the signalling circuit, he will find aguarding or lockout potential on each multiple of either pointthroughout the system. This guarding circuit would extend from positiveside 29 of battery 30, through 9, 6, 28, 7, 4,11, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44,37, 38, 45, 46, 14, to point 74 and multiple wire 75, and thence to allpoints connected to this wire, as would also be the case with point 86and multiple wire 87.

Each party upon the completion of his connnunication, or for any otherreason, may cause his apparatus to be restored to normal jmsition, inthe manner already described, namely: Replacing the receiver 5, as ofthe calling station Fig. 1, upon its receiver hook 6, causes the magnet19 to be de-energized, which releases armature 20, causing detent 33, todisengage ratchet 15, which is restored to normal by spring 73, shown indotted lines.

The modification shown in Fig. 4, comprises a single signalling relayhaving parallel windings 111 and 112 from the aux.-

iliary signal multiple wire 75, and auxiliary answering multiple wire87, leading to the Stevens, administratrix, to intervene and prosecutethis pending application, filed by AL'roN' E. STEVENS, deceased, and toreceive Letters Patent that may be granted thereon, reference is herebymade to liber 1V 122,

page 510, of Transfer of Patents, wherein .is recorded a certified copyof letters testamentary, appointing the said Maude L. Stevens,administratrix of the estate of the said ALTON E. STEVENS, deceased.

Having described my invention and its features and their operations, anddesiring to protect in thebroadest manner legally possible, thecombinations, and the sub-combinations of elements embracing saidinvention and said features,

What I claim is 1. In a telephone system, a plurality of substations;means whereby any substation may become connected with any othersubstation for the purpose ,of communication; an auxiliary signallingcircuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; and means of telephoniccommunication between said signalling and answering auxiliary circuits.

2. In a telephone system, a plurality of substations; means whereby anysubstation may become connected with any other substation for thepurpose of communication; an auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliaryanswering circuit and means for uniting the auxiliary signalling andanswering circuits for the purpose of telephonic communication.

In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; an auxiliarysignalling circuit, an auxiliary answering circuit; automatic meanswhereby one substation may become connected to, and operate thesignalling circuit; signalling means coir trolled by said signallingcircuit; and automatic means whereby a second substation may becomeconnected to and operate the auxiliary answering circuit, saidsignalling means being controlled by said answering circuit.

4. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; an auxiliarysignalling circuit, an auxiliary answering circuit; automatic meanswhereby one substation may become connected to, and operate thesignalling circuit; signalling means controlled by said signallingcicuit; automatic means whereby a second substation may become connectedto, and operate the auxiliary answering circuit, said signalling meansbeing controlled by said answering circuit; and means connecting saidsignalling circuit and said answering circuit, for the purpose ofcommunication; and means whereby the said auxiliary signalling circuitand auxiliary answering signal circuit are inaccessiblc to the remainingsubstations.

In a telephone system, a plurality of substations; automatic meanswhereby any substation may become connected to any other substation forthe purpose of communication; and means whereby said connection may berestored to normal position; an auxiliary signalling circuit;anauxiliary answering circuit; automatic means whereby any substationmay become connected to the said auxiliary signalling circuit; automaticmeans whereby any remaining station may become'connected to the saidauxiliary answering circuit; and means for uniting the. said auxiliarysignalling and auxiliary answering circuits for the purpose of telephonic communication.

6. In a telephone system havinga plurality of substations; thecombination of automatic means whereby any substation may connect to anyother substation for the purpose of communication; and an auxiliarysignalling circuit and an auxiliary answering circuit, providing analternate means for telephonic communication.

7. In a telephone systenihaving a plurality of substations; thecombination of automatic means whereby any substation may connect to anyother substation, with an auxiliary signalling circuit: an auxiliaryanswering circuit; means whereby the two said auxiliary circuits arepermanently united for conversational purposes; a general call circuithaving signal devices therein; and manual means at each substation torcontrolling through said auxiliary circuits the signal devices in saidgeneral call circuit.

8. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of automatic means whereby any substation may connect to anyother substation, with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devicescontrolled thereby; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby thetwo said auxil iary circuits are inductively united for con versationalpurposes; a general call circuit having signal devices therein; andmanual means at each substation for controlling through said auxiliarycircuits the signal devices in said general call circuit.

9. In a telephone system having a plurality of sub stations; thecombination of automatic means whereby any substation may call andconverse with any other substation, with a general call circuit havingsignal devices therein; an auxiliary signalling circuit and a separateauxiliary answering circuit; automatic means whereby any station mayconnect to the said signalling circuit, and an automatic means wherebyany remaining substaition may connect to the said auxiliary answeringcircuit, to control the general call circuit having signal devicestherein; means for uniting the said signalling and the answeringcircuits, for the purposes of conversation; and means whereby the saidsignalling and answering circuits are inaccessible to the remainingsubstations.

10. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation, means for signalling the called station; means to restore thesystem to-normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signaldevices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect tosaid auxiliary signaling circuit; manually operated means forsuccessively closing an opening said signalling circuit, in accordancewith a predetermined code of signals;

an auxiliary answering circuit; and means whereby any remaining stationmay connect to said auxiliary answering circuit.

11. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination oi. means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation; means for signalling the called stat-ion; and means to restorethe sys tem to normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit;signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connectto, and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliaryanswering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect tosaid auxiliary answering circuit, and control said signal devices; andmeans for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliaryanswering circuit, for the purposes of communication, between thecalling and the called station.

12. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation, means for signalling the called station; and means to restorethe system to normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit;signal devices controlled 1Z0 thereby; means whereby any station mayconnect 'to and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliaryanswering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect tosaid auxiliary answering circuit and control said signalling devices;means for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliaryanswering circuit for the purposes of communication between the callingand the called stations; and means whereby said auxiliary signallingcircuit and auxiliary answering circuit are rendered 111- accessible tothe remaining substations.

13. In a telephone system having a plu-.

rality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station mayconnect to any other station; means for signalling the called station;means whereby the calling station may converse with the called station;and means to restore the system to normal position; with an auxiliarysignalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby anystation may connect to said auxiliary signalling circuit; manuallyoperated means -for successively closing and opening said signallingcircuit in accordance with a predctern'iined code of signals; anauxiliary answering circuit; and means whereby any remaining station mayconnect to said auxiliary answering circuit.

14. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation; means for signalling the -al.led station; means whereby thecalling station may converse with the called stat-ion; and means torestore the system to normal position; with an auxiliary signallingcircuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any stationmay connect to, and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; anauxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station mayconnect to said auxiliary answering circuit and control said signaldevices; and means for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and saidauxiliary answering circuit for the purposes of communication betweenthe calling and called stations.

15. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation; means for signalling the called station; means whereby thecalling station may converse with the called station; and means torestore the system to normal ;-osilion; with an auxiliary signallingcircuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any stationmay connect to and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; anauxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station mayconnect to said auxiliary answering circuit and con-' trol saidsignalling devices; means for connecting said auxiliary signallingcircuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes ofcommunication between the calling and the called stations; and meanswhereby said auxiliary signalling circuit and auxiliary answeringcircuit are rendered inaccessible to the remaining substations.

16. In a telephone system having a plu rality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation; means for signalling the called station; means whereby thecalling.

station may converse with the called station; means to restore thesystem to normal position; means for rendering any busy stationinaccessible to other stations; with an auxiliary signalling circuit;signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connectto said auxiliary signalling circuit; manually operated means forsuccessively closing and opening said signalling circuit in accordancewith a predetermined code of signals; an auxiliary answering circuit;and means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliaryanswer mg circuit.

17. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation; means for signalling the called station; means whereby thecalling station may converse with the called station; means to restorethe system to normal position; means for rendering any busy stationinaccessible to other stations; with an auxiliary signalling circuit;signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connectto and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answeringcircuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to saidauxiliary answering circuit and control said signal devices; and meansfor connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliaryanswering circuit for the purposes of communication between the callingand called stations.

18. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; thecombination of means whereby any station may connect to any otherstation; means for signalling the called station; means whereby thecalling station may converse with the called station; means to restorethe system to normal position; means for rendering any busy stationinaccessible to other stations; with an auxiliary signalling circuit;signal devices cont-rolled thereby; means whereby any station mayconnect to said auxiliary signalling circuit; manually operated meansfor successively closing and opening said signalling circuit inaccordance with a predetermined code oi signals; an auxiliary answeringcircuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to saidauxiliary answering circuit; meansfor connecting said auxiliary signalcircuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes ofcommunication between the calling and the called stations; and meanswhereby said auxiliary signalling circuit and auxiliary answeringcircuit are rendered inaccessible to the remaining substations.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'fiix my signature.

ALTON 1 STEVENS.

